Testing apparatus



Filed Dec. 5, 1929 5 Sheets-Shea?I l H. C. WEIKEL, JR

May 7, 1935.

TESTING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 5, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 nu 551# f dummy@ H. C. WEIKEL, JR

TESTING APPARATUS Filed Deo. 5, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet Z5 K gwventcvw E (Wwf/m1 Wf/KEgJ/e May 7, 1935.

Patented May 7, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE TESTING APPARATUS Olliov Application December 5, 1929, Serial No. 411,871

13 Claims.

This invention relates to testing apparatus for detecting and indicating accuracy or inaccuracies with respect to stacks of cut sheets, such, for instance, as labels or other stacked articles.

It is mostl important that labels, and particularly those that are designed to cover completely the sides of cans, jars or other types of packages should be of definite width, sufficient to cover the package, but not to exceed the height of the can or package, and of uniform width throughout. The accuracy of the length dimension is not so important. since there is no serious objection if the ends of the surrounding label fail by a trifle to meet, or if they slightly overlap.

The run of labels from the cutting machine cannot be relied upon to be uniformly correct, for there are a number of factors which mayinfiuence inaccuracies in the width of the labels.

In the first place, the cutting machine may be inadvertently set to cut too Wide a label. Then, the sheets in the stack may shift somewhat as the cutter descends, producing a draw, that is. if the stack shifts convex toward the knife. the center labels will be cut narrower than those at the top and bottom, while if the stack presents a ccncavity toward the knife, the top and bottom labels will be cut narrower than the center labels, also the stack may shift diagonally with respect to the plane of the knife so that either the upper or lower labels will be cut thinner than the other labels. v

Furthermore, the stack of labels may be cut narrower at one end than at the other. Any of these defects in the width size renders the labels useless and represents a complete loss in time and material.

This loss is cbviated by the use of a testing device of the present invention, which has been devised with the object in view of detecting and `,indicating any or all of the above deviations from accuracy or uniformity in the width of the labels in stacks, and other objects of the invention will appear as the following description of a preferred and practical embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the drawings in which the same characters `.of reference are used in the several gures to denote the several parts: A

Figure 1 is a plan view of the testing apparatus constituting the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Figures 3 and 4 are detail plan views partly in section showing switch mechanisms respectively in two positions of operation, for detecting draw in the stack of labels;

Figure 5 is a pian view partly in section of the switch mechanism for detecting excess or insufficient width in the stack of labels;

Figure 6 is a section taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 2;

Fsure 7 is a section taken alone the line 1-1 of Figure 2,:

Figure 8 is a section taken along the line -B of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a section taken along the line 9-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of one of the rocker arms used in the operation of the draw detecting mechanism; and

Figure 11 is a diaerammatic view of the electric circuit employed in the actuation of the several detecting and indicating units.

Referring now in detail to the several figures, and rst advertine to those views shown in Fsures l and 2, the invention may be readily understood by first referring to the stack of labels a, which rest upon a support I and are adapted to be pushed by means of a plane back-board 2 into contact with a face plate 3 which, itself, moves in the width testing operation, and which carries yielding feelers with appurtenant switch mechanism by means of which the draw can be detected.

kReferring in detail t0 the back-board or pusher 2, it is preferably formed with a flat base 4, resting transversely upon the support I and being Secured adjacent its Opposite ends to slides 5 cooperating with channels 5 formed in the support I,

The relation of the slides, channels and backboard to the support I is such that the back-board slides with approximately mathematical accuracy so that the piane face thereof is maintained perpendicular to the line of direction in which it is moved. The back-board is .operated by means of a rod 1 suitably secured to said back-board and sliding through a standard 8. An adiustable collar 9 surrounds the rod l 40n .the side of the standard remote from .the back-board and affords an abutment yfor determining how far the back-board may be pushed.

The rod 1 is provided with an operating lknob or handle I Il. The support I is preferably provided with a scale I I with which .the edge of the base cooperates to facilitate setting the apparatus by means of the stop 9 to the current widthv The stack of labels is placed upon the support I in any desirable position, and when the backbcard 2 is pushed against the stack it lines up the rear edges of the labels so that the inaccuracies appear upon the front face of the stack, and the entire stack of labels is pushed by the back-board 2 into operative proximity to the face plate 3.

Now, referring to the face plate and its associated parts, it will be observed that the face plate is provided with a base I2 from which the face plate rises perpendicularly, said base operating between guides i3, the relation of said base and guides being such that the front of said face plate is always maintained in parallel relation to the iront of the back-board 2.

A plunger rod I4 is suitably secured to the face plate and extends rearwardly of said face plate slidably through a standard I5 erected upon the support l. A spring i6 is held in compressive relation between said standard and the rear side or the face plate, said spring serving normally to keep said face plate in a forward position, the limit of which is determined by means such as the screw I7 xed to the plunger rod I4 and which is adapted to abut against the standard I5.

Operatively associated with the plunger rod I4 is a rocking lever I8, pivoted at an intermediate point in its length I9 to the support I. The opposite end of said lever is adapted to be engaged by the rearward end of the plunger rod I4, preferably through the intermediary of an adjustable set screw 20 or other equivalent form of adjusting device. The rocking lever I8 forms the movable element of an alternatively operating switch, the fixed contacts of which are constituted by the switch contacts 20 and 2|. Said fixed contacts are in circuit respectively, with the lamps 22 and 23, which, as will be observed in Figure 11, are in circuit with a suitable source of current 24, one pole of which is grounded as is the movable switch element I8 to the metallic part of the apparatus.

The set screw 2D is so adjusted that in the normal position of the face plate and backboard, when the former is biased toward the backboard by the spring I6 and the back-board is pushed forward as far as the stop 9 will permit, the switch element I8 is in contact with the xed switch contact 29', thus closing the circuit to the lamp 22, and lighting said lamp. This relative position of the face plate and back board represents a width less than the desired width of the label indicated by the position of the back board relative to the scale II.

Assuming that a stack of labels is placed on the support I and pushed by the back-board toward or against the face plate to the limit of movement determined by the stop 9, if the face plate is not pushed in suiiciently to break the circuit through the lamp 22, the continuing illumination of this lamp indicates that the width of the stack of labels is less than the desired width. If, however, the face plate is pushed in by the stack of labels suiiiciently not only to break the circuit of the lamp 22, but to close the circuit through the lamp 23 by moving the switch element I 8 into engagement with the contact 2I, then the lamp 23 is lighted, this indicating that the width of the stack of labels is too great.

If the amount of movement of the face plate is just sufficient to move the switch element to an intermediate position in which neither of the circuits, through the lamps 22 and 23, are energized, then the stack of labels is of the proper width. There is, of course, a slight tolerance in the permissible width dimension of the stack, having a value equal to the distance through which the switch element I8 must move in traveling from one to the other of the switch contacts, and this tolerance may be increased or decreased at will by means of the set screw 20 since the outer or contacting end of the switch arm I8 is a resilient leaf 24. However, there is a positive stop 20 provided, placing a limit to the amount to which this tolerance may be adjusted.

For the detection and indication of possible draw in the stack of labels, the base I2 of the face plate 3 is provided with a vertical spindle 25 on which are mounted in vertical spaced relation the three bell crank levers 26, 21, and 28. Said bell crank levers have one arm each directed normally substantially parallel to the face plato 3 and carry feelers 29, 30 and 3| adapted to project through suitable apertures formed in vertical alignment in the face plate. The said arms of said bell crank levers are normally biased into the position in which the feelers project to their limit beyond the front face of said face plate by means of springs 32 mounted upon posts 33 fixed in said face plate and passing with the necessary lost motion through the said arms of said bell crank levers, said springs abutting against suitable adjusting nuts 34 threaded on said posts.

The opposite arms 35, 3G and 3'I of'said bell crank levers constitute the movable elements of switches, the corresponding fixed contacts 38, 39 and 4I) are carried in vertical alignment on a post 4I suitably secured to the base I2 of the face plate.

Said switches are closed and the circuits which they control consequently, are energized when the feelers 29, 30 and 3| are in projected position. Said circuits include lamps 42, 43 and 44, Figure 11, which remain lighted while said feelers are projected.

The stack of labels is positioned on the support I with one side thereof adjacent the vertical row of feelers. The stack is then pushed against the face plate by means of the handle I0; if the forward face of the stack at that end is even, all

three of the feelers will be pushed in, all the switches controlled by the bell crank levers will be opened and the circuit through the lamps 42, 43 and 44 broken. The darkening of all three of these lamps indicates that there is no draw adjacent that end of the stack of labels.

If there is draw at the top, the uppermost feeler will remain projected, so that the lamp 42 remains lighted, the other two being darkened. If there is draw in the middle of the stack at that end, the intermediate feeler will remain proi jected and the lamp controlled thereby will remain illuminated. Likewise, if the draw is at the bottom of the said end of the stack, the lowermost feeler will remain projected, and the corresponding lamp be illuminated. If there should be draw at any two of these places at the same time, the corresponding lamps will be illuminated.

After the draw has been determined for one end of the stack, the handle is manually retracted sufficiently to enable the stack to be shifted until an intermediate portion thereof is in alignment with the vertical row of feelers, then the handle I0 is pushed inward to its limit and the presence of the draw and the location thereof determined for the intermediate portion of the stack. The same operation is then repeated for the opposite end of the stack.

If, in testing for draw, all of the lamps 42, 43 and 44 are darkened at each test, it indicates that there is no draw" and that the stack is perfect insofar as the factor of the "draw" is concerned. It is obvious that the test for the undersize or over-sise in the width is rdetermined simultaneously with the test for draw, bythe extinguishing of the lamps k22 and 2t or by either of them remaining lighted, as the case may be.

A main operating switch is provided and when the circuit is first closed, before making the test, all of the lamps will be illuminated except the lamp 23 rwhich indicates over-size in the width dimension, since in the inoperative condition of the apparatus the movable switch element i8 is maintained in engagement with the switch contact which indicates under-size in the width dimension, by means of alight spring 48.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that when the stack oi labels is perfect in every respect, that is to say, when the width dimension is within the limit of tolerance and there is no "draw", all the lamps will be extinguished.

It is, therefore, understood that while Ihave shown my testing apparatus as being operated electrically, it is within the purview of the invention to substitute purely mechanical means for the electrical means herein shown and described, and that the lamps may be replaced by any other form of indicating apparatus without transcendlng the scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is: f

l. A testing apparatus comprising a support, cooperating members having parallel plane confronting gauge faces perpendicular to said support, guides on said support for said cooperating members, said members being slidable relative to said support in a direction perpendicular to said plane faces, one member functioning as a pusher for the object under test, means to permit the yielding of the other member through a narrow range determining the tolerance in the width dimansion of the object, means for operating said pusher, and an adjustable stop for limiting the inward travel of said pusher thereby determining what shall be considered the correct width of the object.

2. Testing apparatus comprising a support, cooperating members having parallel plane confronting gauge faces perpendicular to said support, guides on said support for said cooperating members, said members being slidable relative to said support in a direction perpendicular to said plane faces, one member functioning as a pusher for the object under test, means to permit the yielding of the other member through a narrow adjustable range determining the tolerance in the width dimension of the object, means for operating said pusher, and an adjustable stop for limiting the inward travel of said pusher, thereby determining what shall be determined the correct width of the object, and indicating means activated at the said limits of tolerance.

3. Testing apparatus for stacked units comprising a support, cooperating members having parallel plane confronting gauge faces perpendicular to said support, guides on said support for said cooperating members, said members being slidable relative to said support in a direction perpendicular to said plane faces, one member functioning as a stack pusher, spring means arranged to permit the yielding of the other member through a narrow range determining the tolerance in the width dimension of the units constituting the stack, means for operating said stack pusher, and an adjustable stop for limiting the inward travel of the stack pusher thereby de# termining what shall be considered the correct width of a unit, and indicating means activated at the said limits of tolerance.

4. Testing apparatus for stacked units compris-v ing a support, cooperating members having par allel plane confronting gauge faces perpendicular to said support, guides on said support for said cooperating members, said members being slidable relative to said support in a direction perpendicular to said plane faces, one member functioning as a stack pusher spring means arranged to permit yielding of the other member through a narrow adjustable range determining the tolerance in the width dimension of the units constituting the'stack, means for operating said stack pusher, and an adjustable stop for limiting the inward travel of the stack pusher thereby determining what shall be considered the correct width of a unit, indicating means, and an element actuated by said yielding member for 'alternatively operating said indicating means at said limits of tolerance. f

5. Testing apparatus for stacked units com prising a support, cooperating members having parallel plane confronting gauge faces perpendicular to said support, guides on said support for said cooperating members, said members being slidable relative to said support in a direction perpendicular to said plane faces, one member functioning as a stack pusher, resilient means arranged to permit yielding of the other member through a narrow range determining the tolerance in the width of the units constituting the stack, means for operating said stack pusher. indicating means, and an element actuated by said yielding means for alternatively operating said indicating means at the said limits of tolerance. f

6. Testing apparatus for stacked units comprising a support, cooperating members havins parallel plane confronting gauge faces perpendicula-r to said support, guides on said support for said cooperating members, said members being slidable relative to said support in a direction perpendicular to said plane faces. one member functioning as a stack pusher the other yielding through a narrow range dcterminins the tolerance in the width dimension of the units constituting the stack, a spring normally biasing said yielding member toward said stack pusher. indicating means, and an element actuated by said yielding means for alternatively operating said indicating means at the said limits of tolerance, said element being normally in activating relation with one of said indicating means when said yielding member is biased to its limit by said spring.

7. Testing apparatus for stacked units comprising a support, cooperating members having parallel plane confronting gauge faces perpendicular to said support, guides on said support for said cooperating members, said members being slidable relative to said support in a direction perpendicular to said plane faces, one member functioning as a stack pusher the other yielding through a narrow range determining the tolerance in the width dimension of the units constituting the stack, a spring normally biasing said yielding member toward said stack pusher, indicating means, and an element actuated by said yielding means for alternatively operating said indicating means at the said limits of tolerance, said element being normally in activating relation with one of said indicating means when said yielding member is biased to its limit by said spring, and means for varying the range between tolerance of said yielding member and the indicator actuating member.

8. Testing apparatus for stacked units comprising a support, cooperating members having parallel plane confronting gauge faces perpendicular to said support, guides on said support for said cooperating members, said members being slidable relative to said support in a direction perpendicular to said plane faces, one member functioning as a staclr pusher the other yielding through a narrow range determining the tolerance in the width dimension oi the units constituting the stack, indicating means, and a depressible feeler normally projecting beyond the plane surface of said yielding means, and means operated by said feeler for activating said indicating means when said feeler is depressed.

9. Testing apparatus for stacked units comprising a support, cooperating members having parallel plane confronting gauge faces perpendicular to said support, guides on said support for said cooperating members, said members being slidable relative' to said support in a direction perpendicular to said plane faces, one member functioning as a stack pusher the other yielding through a narrow range determining the tolerance in the width dimension of the units constituting the stack, a plurality of individually depressible feelers normally projecting at different points beyond the plane surface of said yielding means, a plurality of indicating means associated with the respective feelers, and means responsive to the said feelers for activating the said indicating means.

10. Testing apparatus for stacked units comprising a support, cooperating members having parallel plane confronting gauge faces perpendicular to said support, guides on said support for said cooperating members, said members being slidable relative to said support in a direction perpendicular to said plane faces, one member functioning as a sta-ck pusher the other yielding through a narrow range determining the tolerance in the width dimension of the units constituting the stack, a plurality of indicating means, an element actuated by said yielding means in yielding, for alternatively operating either of two 'of said indicating means, a plurality of individually depressible feelers normally projecting beyond the plane face of said yielding member at different depth levels, the other indicating means being associated with said respective feelers, and means actuated by the depression of said feelers f or activating the corresponding indicating means.

11. Testing apparatus for stacked units comprising a. support, cooperating members having parallel plane confronting gauge faces perpendicular to said support, guides on said support for said cooperating members, said members being slidable relative to said support in a direction perpendicular to said plane faces, one member functioning as a stack pusher the other yielding through a narrow range determining the tolerance in the Width dimension of the units constituting the stack, electrically operated indicating means including an electric circuit, and means including fixed switch contacts associated with said indicating means circuit, and a movable switch contact actuated by said yielding means for alternatively engaging said xed switch contact for closing the circuit through said indicating means.

l2. Testing apparatus for stacked units comprising a support, cooperating members having parallel plane confronting gauge faces perpendicular to said support, guides on said support for said cooperating members, said members being slidable relative to said support in a direction perpendicular to said plane faces, one member functioning as a stack pusher the other yielding through a. narrow range determining the tolerance in the width dimension of the units constituting the stack, a plurality of electrically operated indicating means, an electric circuit embracing said means, said circuit including spaced xed switch contacts associated with two of said indicating means, a movable switch element actuated by said yielding means for alternatively cooperating with said switch contacts for energizing one or the other of the two indicating means, individually depressible feelers carried at difierent depth levels by said yielding means, switches operable by said feelers when depressed associated with the other indicating means by means of which said indicating means are activated.

13. In a testing device of the character indicated, a pusher member having a plane face adapted to align the objects being tested, a plane faced member parallel with the plane face of the pusher, a plurality of spaced feeler members spaced from and adapted to reciprocate toward and away from said pusher and through said plane faced member, a plurality of indicators independently and operatively associated one with each feeler member, and means for independently biasing said feeler members toward said pusher member.

HENRY CHRISTIAN WEIKEL, JR. 

